Rental-aid wait listopens after 6 years
The city's public housing authority is opening up the Section 8 waiting list for low-income people to apply to receive rental assistance for the first time in six years.
When the list was last open in 2009, there was a long line of people waiting to apply, said Kenyon Lowe, chairman of the housing authority's board of commissioners.
The Metropolitan Housing Alliance is accepting applications only online this time, at mhapha.org, unless a person is disabled and requires assistance to complete the pre-application.
The electronic applications will be accepted on the website beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Those requiring assistance will be helped at the alliance's offices at 100 S. Arch St. on Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those going in person are required to take all necessary documentation.
More information is available from the housing authority at (501) 340-4821. The office is open Monday through Thursday.
The housing authority, which receives federal funding to manage public housing units and administer Section 8 choice housing vouchers, has not set a time to close the waiting list. A public notice said the agency reserves the right to close the list at any time.
Public input soughton lake recreation
Central Arkansas Water is hosting a meeting Thursday to get public input on potential recreation activities for Lake Maumelle, Lake Winona and adjacent utility-owned property.
The water utility has received requests to expand recreation activities at both lakes, but it has a management plan to ensure the quality of the water is protected, because the two lakes are the primary source of water for the utility's customers.
"All recreation activities must be consistent with CAW's mission of providing high quality drinking water to the citizens of Central Arkansas," a news release said.
Recreation opportunities and parameters will be discussed Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Winfield United Methodist Church at 20100 Cantrell Road.
The water utility has contracted with Kleinschmidt Associates to facilitate the public meeting and help prepare the recreation management plan.
'16 allocations setfor U.S. housing aid
The Board of Directors has finalized how it will allocate federal housing funds for 2016.
The city expects to have $1.4 million from a new community development block grant and leftover funds. It will divide that money for owner-occupied rehabilitation projects, the World Changers program, wheelchair ramps, the Carelink-Meals on Wheels program, the John Barrow Senior Activity Center, the St. Vincent East Clinic and administrative costs.
A little more than $1 million of HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be allocated to substantial rehabilitation projects, new construction, a fund for community partners and administrative costs.
Another $329,000 of Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS money will go toward housing assistance, related supportive services and administration.
Metro on 08/23/2015